Topes in Paradise.

Mexico is infamous for topes (speed bumps/ sleeping
policemen). Together we have driven in more than 75 countries, and have never
experienced so many speed bumps! Considering the excessive number of roadside
shrines in this country, it's no wonder they need some way of slowing down the
traffic. Topes are created out of concrete, asphalt, metal, wood, rubble,
holes, rope, and old tires. On a particular bad-tope day, we traversed 70 topes
in 60 minutes on a 30km stretch of road. That's an average of 2.3 topes per
kilometer. At that rate, it might take us a few years to get to South America!

Uno,

dos,

tres,

cuatro,

cinco...

Another way Mexicans like to slow down traffic is by placing their
young children in the middle of busy roads, selling food, drink, and assorted
items.

In the Chiapas region, we drove
a beautiful valley drive on highway 199, also known as "Bandito Road". In the
past, there have supposedly been armed robberies in this wild region.

It was not very comforting to see this Mexican-with-rifle sign!
(United resistance against territory occupation.)

Mexicans are very friendly
people, often waving to us from the roadside, their vehicles, or riding in the
back of trucks.

A popular past-time challenges drivers to see how many people they
can fit into the back of their pick up truck.